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Improvisation Archives

Cissy Strut Jam: Groove Like George Porter Jr. of The Meters
Keep It Groovy

Cissy Strut Jam: Groove Like George Porter Jr. of The Meters

In this “Keep It Groovy” episode, we’ll channel the power of George Porter Jr. to get our funk on. Check out this lesson Ryan Madora created around “Cissy Strut” by The Meters.

Keep It Groovy: Beginner Improvisation – What Do I Play In The Key Of A?
Keep It Groovy

Keep It Groovy: Beginner Improvisation – What Do I Play In The Key Of A?

In this Keep It Groovy lesson, Ryan Madora explores tips and tricks for improvising a bass line. Working in the key of A, we’re settling on a particular chord progression and spending two bars on each chord.

Keep It Groovy: Rhythm Section Jam – Tips For Playing A Funky 12 Bar Blues
Keep It Groovy

Keep It Groovy: Rhythm Section Jam – Tips For Playing A Funky 12 Bar Blues

In this new “Keep It Groovy” lesson, Ryan Madora is joined by Derrek Phillips to chat about improvising a funky 12-bar blues bass line with a drummer.

Keep It Groovy: Create A Funky Groove Using Just Two Notes
Keep It Groovy

Keep It Groovy: Create A Funky Groove Using Just Two Notes

In this “Keep It Groovy” lesson, Ryan Madora discuss how to improvise a simple groove with just two notes. By playing a note multiple times, adding in dead notes, or creating a “note sandwich,” we can start simple and slowly add in the funk.

Bass & Creativity: Ghosts & Voicings
Bass & Creativity

Bass & Creativity: Ghosts & Voicings

In this new “Bass & Creativity” lesson, Olivier Babaz talks about how improvisation is a great tool to practice and expand the use of new musical techniques or ideas. He covers two ideas: ghost notes and modulation with voicings.

Bass & Creativity: Cycles, Grid & Rhythm Blocks
Bass & Creativity

Bass & Creativity: Cycles, Grid & Rhythm Blocks

In this new “Bass & Creativity” lesson, Olivier Babaz talks about rhythm in improvisation, specifically managing the rhythmic grid with cycles. By changing where we feel the metronome, we can build our inner pulse for more creative ideas.

Keep It Groovy: Beginner Improvisation For Bass Players – Location Jumping
Keep It Groovy

Keep It Groovy: Beginner Improvisation For Bass Players – Location Jumping

In today’s “Keep It Groovy” lesson, Ryan Madora focuses on an important element of improvisation: location jumping. The goal is to build a bass theme and identify other locations on the fretboard where we can easily play it.

Bass & Creativity: Building a Story
Bass & Creativity

Bass & Creativity: Building a Story

The best way to engage listeners is to craft a story with your music. In this “Bass & Creativity” lesson, Olivier Babaz takes a look at ideas and methods to build a story through your improvised solos and compositions.

Bass & Creativity: From Improvisation to Composition
Bass & Creativity

Bass & Creativity: From Improvisation to Composition

In this lesson, Olivier Babaz discusses some key elements on how to structure an improvisation in order to transform it into a full-grown composition.

Bass & Creativity: Improvisation and Ear Training
Bass & Creativity

Bass & Creativity: Improvisation and Ear Training

In this lesson, we take a look at a way to build speed and effectiveness in recognizing intervals. We'll also learn to deduce chords and scales by ear through improvisation. Once again, the addition of piano with the right hand is a great way to expand our options from a bass perspective.

Licks and Fills from Right Hand Drive
Ask Damian Erskine

Licks and Fills from Right Hand Drive

In this video from the road, I decided to respond to an email requesting some contextual examples of how I might use a few of the “licks and fills” from my book, Right Hand Drive. After a handful of technical difficulties and the majority of my day off spent filming in a hotel room, I present to you… Real world...

Creative Bass Lines: Lydian Triad Pairs
Creative Bass Lines

Creative Bass Lines: Lydian Triad Pairs

Today, we dive into something new – superimposing Major triad pairs derived from Lydian Mode Harmony over a Major 7th chord. The examples on the video are over an F Major 7th chord, and I am using a neat little looper for this. It’s a great practice tool. In the video (and transcription) I take you through the basic major...